“I think one thing I appreciated that my last mentor/boss told me is "you don't work for a company, you work for a person" and that really stuck with me. Finding an exec to report to who really cares about you and gives you the opportunity to grow/succeed is everything.” Whispered Member
Who you work for is one of the most important factors in your growth and work satisfaction. It is also something most people neglect to diligence as they fall in love with the role / company / compensation.
While breakout companies can accelerate your career, short roles are career killers. And if you pick the wrong manager, you will pay for it.
How to diligence your potential manager
Having a boss who amplifies you and vice versa is an amazing feeling. Here are some questions to help you evaluate your potential manager:
Share your user manual: Here is a great concept to articulate your style to your boss. Ask them to review it and discuss it / how it fits with their style. If they won’t invest this time that is probably a red flag
Talk to others who have worked with them: They are doing background references on your. It is great to do the same on them. Generally we advise waiting to do these until you have an offer.
Listen if they care about your career: See what questions they ask you and if they thoughtfully respond.
If a great manager leaves the company it can dramatically impact your career. So take the time to research the risk they leave:
How long have they been there? If they have been 5+ years or <6 months dig in in particular.
What is the reputation of the CEO? You can learn about the CEO from interviews, Glass Door and Whispered’s Company Insights. If the CEO is tough to work for it increases the risk your manager leaves.
Ask your manager If they are evasive when you ask how long they are planning to stay this may be a sign.
Check LinkedIn Open for Work If your boss is looking for work, you definitely would want to know. If you have made friends with a recruiter, they can peek at this for you.
What to do if your boss leaves
If you have a great boss and they leave, things will change. Here are some tactics on how to handle this:
Things will be hectic: Assuming you are senior, they will probably not have a plan to deal with your manager’s departure
The company will need you more than ever (at least in the short-term): You will be even more valuable to the company while they are figuring out next steps
You’ll probably pick up more responsibility: Given the point above, expect to add additional reports
Get clear if they are backfilling your boss: Feel free to ask the CEO directly if they don’t share. If they are evasive, assume they are not backfilling.
If they are backfilling, you run the risk of a bad manager. It may make sense to start warming up your network. See our article on how to quietly search.
If they aren’t backfilling, you may find yourself reporting to the CEO (see next section)
Special Notes on Reporting to the CEO
It feels good emotionally to report to the CEO. You definitely have a seat at the table. But this has pros and cons for your career:
CEOs rarely have time for you: They have too many obligations and need people who can self-manage fully. If you aren’t ready for this, don’t report to the CEO
CEOs are easier to diligence: The culture of the company comes from the CEO so you can ask it in interviews and find out about it online.
CEOs aren’t going anywhere: This gives stability but it also makes it even more important to diligence them.
Don’t try to get the CEO fired. You disagreeing with the CEO about strategy and execution is natural but it’s more your problem than theirs. If you don’t like the direction the company is headed, that’s understandable. Then quit. Sam Jacobs
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